SDS100/SDS200: Windows machine for my SDS100

[Madduck00]

Long time Mac guy, want to have something I can program my SDS100, don't think I want to do a Boot Camp/Parallels/etc work around.
Can y'all please confirm that this machine would work with Sentinal?
I'm a moderately literate computer guy, a bit illiterate re: windows(have not used it in over 20 yrs.)
I am quite illiterate when it comes to scanners. Still quite the noob in this world.

What do yall think about this one please?
Thank you for your time and help.
73...KJ7IOM

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-E7270-UltraBook-Refurbished/dp/B07D5MCQ82/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=windows%2Blaptop%2B8gb&qid=1693148129&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011%2Cp_72%3A1248879011&rnid=1248877011&rps=1&s=pc&sr=1-9&th=1

 

[belvdr]

It will work fine, but don't expect speedy.

 

[laidback]

i5-6300U High Performance Processor is pretty quick.
DELL good choice

 

[belvdr]

i5-6300U High Performance Processor is pretty quick.
DELL good choice

It is, but for Win10+, it might be a little slow. It only has 2 cores.

 

[Madduck00]

Thanks everyone. The only thing i'll be using it for is Sentinal.
I really want to get my SDS100 dialed in, I've spent this much on this radio, to not use it to it max ability is a waste. I travel a lot so the ability to program multiple cities quick and easy is worth it.
Since I can plan ahead faster is always nicer, but I can live with ok speed vs spending more money for this application.
Thanks again...it's been ordered!!!

 

[fxdscon]

Thanks everyone. The only thing i'll be using it for is Sentinal.

.
You really should load up ProScan software on there for your SDS100's maximum potential! Free 30 day fully functional trial, and the very best scanner software available anywhere:

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

proscan.org

 

[Madduck00]

Thx for the suggestion.
I'm not familiar with ProScan, i'll do some research. Does it go onto the computer then does scanning? Or is it used to program the SDS?

 

[KK4JUG]

Sentinel is not a complicated program. Like I've said before, "It'll run on anything above an abacus" so don't worry about a slow machine.

 

[fxdscon]

Thx for the suggestion.
I'm not familiar with ProScan, i'll do some research. Does it go onto the computer then does scanning? Or is it used to program the SDS?

.
ProScan has a multitude of features...

• Database Programming
• Web Server (remote control using web browser)
• History, UID, & FTO Logging
• Remote Scanner Over IP
• Source Client (for streaming audio to servers)
• Band Scope • Control Channel Monitoring
• Recorder
• Audio Flow Diagram
• Sessions Manager

One of my favorites is the web server. You can listen to, view, and control your scanner from a web browser (computer or smartphone) anywhere there is internet service available.

Bob, the author of ProScan, is a member here and product support is second to none.

This is the (very long) official ProScan thread here on RR:

ProScan: - Official Software Thread

ProScan Version 1.7 Build 2 includes the RadioReference Imports feature, improved Scanner Over IP, and bug fixes. Supported scanners are the BCD996T, BC796D, BC785D, BC780XLT, BC296D, and the BC250D. I'm thriving to make this the best Computer Aided Scanning program and suggestions are very...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[Madduck00]

Wow, thx fxdscon.
Looking at it now, and yes, there is a lot of stuff on there.
Thank you

 

[bearcatrp]

That will work fine BUT, if you get proscan and wanting to log 24/7, your better off with a cheap NUK or similar. I picked up a little square HP (same size as a mac mini) in the for sale section and works awesome for a dedicated proscan recording. A SDS200 would be better for constant logging but the SDS100 will work too. Good luck.

 

[GlobalNorth]

Parallels works great for me. I try to avoid buying computer hardware now, because it obsoletes so quickly and I like less clutter.

 

[Madduck00]

That will work fine BUT, if you get proscan and wanting to log 24/7, your better off with a cheap NUK or similar. I picked up a little square HP (same size as a mac mini) in the for sale section and works awesome for a dedicated proscan recording. A SDS200 would be better for constant logging but the SDS100 will work too. Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions.
As i rearrange my office I'll how space plays out. Whether ProScan vs SDS200 will be a better setup.

Global...agree 100%. The depth of my computer skills is very good in some areas, pretty crummy in others. My Mac has too much stuff on it for me to take a chance of jacking something up. Because if it can get jacked up, I'll jack it up.
Less is more without a doubt.

 

[belvdr]

Whether ProScan vs SDS200 will be a better setup.

Note that ProScan is software that connects to a scanner. It's not one or the other. If you have ProScan, you need a scanner. The scanner can operate without ProScan though.

 

[Madduck00]

OH! See...did not understand that, Thank you!
I got my ham license a few years ago and am loving the hobby. I had no idea how scanning is a whole different world. I though with my ham license I'd be able to 'scan' everything. yeah.........nope.
Thank you for this.

 

[nosoup4u]

Parallels works great for me. I try to avoid buying computer hardware now, because it obsoletes so quickly and I like less clutter.

and now with coherence mode, you can run it on your desktop with the rest of your programs.

KB Parallels: What is Coherence? Information about Coherence View mode

: Coherence mode in virtual machines is no longer supported.

www.parallels.com

 

[Omega-TI]

The only things that give me pause are the 12.5" screen size for legible size of text display. Also laptops of that size and era sometimes only displayed at 1366 x 768, which means you might have to resize the fields to display stuff, or use the bar at the bottom to scroll side-to-side to see the last two or three fields. If it does 1920 x 1080 should get everything displayed on the screen at one time.

 

[a417]

@Madduck00, this image is 1366x745ish. Everything fits in sentinel, you might have to squint if the DPI is not set correctly, but you will be ok.
I frequently use Sentinel in a window this size on my mac book pro running Linux, you'll be ok.

 

[Omega-TI]

.
You really should load up ProScan software on there for your SDS100's maximum potential! Free 30 day fully functional trial, and the very best scanner software available anywhere:

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

proscan.org

@Madduck00, this image is 1366x745ish. Everything fits in sentinel, you might have to squint if the DPI is not set correctly, but you will be ok.
I frequently use Sentinel in a window this size on my mac book pro running Linux, you'll be ok.


View attachment 147502

@fxdscon It looks like he's only interested in Sentinel at the moment, which as @a417 has shown will not have any display issues other than text size. While it's just my opinion, Proscan would be even worse on a 1366 x 768 display. For example, this first image below is 1600 X 900 and you can see what is cut off when you compare it to the second image which is 1920 X 1080.

 

[jaspence]

Asus E210M. $130 on sale, good speed, 11 inch screen, Windows 11, 64 GB EEMC drive with open slot for second SSD up to 1 GB, combination touch/number pad. Great for portable device and fast considering low end specs.